Travel Tips
We visited Macau courtesy of the Macau Government Tourist
Office (www.macautourism.gov.mo),
whose Tokyo office (03-5275-2461) provides helpful travel
information. Fly to Hong Kong and take the ferry to the Macau
Ferry Terminal; airlines include Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines
or Dragonair. Or, transfer at a number of Asian cities onto
Macau Airlines, TransAsia Airways or Eva Air to fly directly
to Macau International Airport. Published rates for the five-star
Hyatt Regency Macau start at HK$1,020 (approx. ¥15,000)
per night. Visit http://macau.regency.hyatt.com
for special offers.

Macau pays its respects to history while keeping a keen
eye on the future

courtesy of mgto

So youre going to Macau? Good luck at the gambling
tables.

We met with many comments along these lines in the weeks leading
up to our visit to the tiny Asian region. Theres no
denying Macaus reputation as a gamblers paradise,
but not being the betting kind, we looked forward to experiencing
its unique mingling of cultures, recent surges in development,
and the exceptional architecture from its years of Portuguese
control.

Macau (whose name derives from the Chinese A-Ma-Gao,
or Bay of A-Ma, referring to the goddess of the
sea) is often compared to its neighbor, Hong Kong, another
former colony returned to China. Located just over 60 kilometers
to the west, Macau is a quick ferry ride away. Its a
popular side trip for visitors to Hong Kong, but Macaus
charms as a historically rich land experiencing dizzying modernization
and growth deserves wider recognition as a stand-alone destination.

Macau is considered a Special Administrative Region
of China, and is actually composed of three distinct areas:
the peninsula, which gives Macau its name and which is connected
to mainland China by a 200-meter-wide isthmus; the central
island of Taipa; and, to the south, Coloane, the smallest
and greenest of the three. After arriving at Macau International
Airport, we took a taxi through the humid dawn past the illuminated
beauty of Sai Van Bridge, which connects Taipa to Macau. On
the horizon we spotted Macau Tower, completed in December
2001 and the worlds tenth tallest freestanding structure.
For thrill seekers (like us) willing to shell out HK$1,000
(about ¥15,000), the heart-pounding climb to the top offers
stunning views and an opportunity to confront any fear-of-height
issues.

But the modern facilities that have sprung up in recent years
are no match for the beauty of the churches, temples, fortresses
and residences that carry an enormous amount of Macaus
cultural heritage. Their mix of hues, elegant European architecture,
Western and Eastern religious symbolism and ornate Chinese
script create an enchanting atmosphere.

Echoes of the nearly 450-year Portuguese rule, which ended
in December 1999, reverberate strongest in the religious monuments.
The granite façade of the Church of Mater Dei, commonly
referred to as the Ruins of St. Paul, is one of Macaus
most popular tourist spots. The remains of the complex destroyed
by an 1835 fire tells the story of Macau as an important crossroads
in religion, academics and culture between the East and West.
Designed by an Italian Jesuit and built by Christian Japanese
stonemasons, the rich design incorporates figures of Jesus
and Mary, Portuguese ships, Biblical verse in Chinese, and
peonies and chrysanthemums representing China and Japan.

Seeing harmony between religions and architectural styles
brings up a heartening aspect of Macaus history. Despite
years under foreign control and the influx of Catholic missionaries
in a traditionally Buddhist and Taoist culture, Macau has
never suffered serious conflicts due to differing creeds.
This explains why so many of Macaus structures have
endured in such excellent condition.

Soaking up so much culture and history works up an appetite;
good thing one is never far from a lovely meal in Macau, where
flavors of Portugal, China, Africa, Japan, India and Southeast
Asia are woven together into the local cuisine. The Flamingo
Restaurant in the five-star Hyatt Regency Macau Resort serves
favorites like giant prawns sautéed in garlic and the
ubiquitous bacalhau (salted cod), prepared in myriad ways.
The pristine Lua Azul inside Macau Tower offers excellent
dim sum. Not to be missed for traditional Portuguese cuisine
is the Military Club, a salmon-pink colonial building that
is lit up at night, where the spacious dining hall is an atmospheric
treat for the eyes. Almost every establishment in Macau serves
Portuguese wine and wickedly strong coffee. For dessert, a
visit to Lord Stows Bakery on Coloane or Margarets
Café de Nata on the Peninsula for hot-from-the-oven
egg tarts is a must.

Even if gambling is not your thing, a casino visit offers
a fascinating peek into the Macau economy powerhouse. Shimmering
lights and nonstop energy hint at gamblings incredible
appeal for tourists. To observe or take part in a different
kind of betting, spend an evening in the stands of the Canidrome,
Asias only greyhound-racing facility. Its worth
the small price of admission (around ¥1,500) to see trainers
parade the ultra-sleek dogs and watch them take off with lightning
speed around the track.

It seems appropriate that, just as Macaus various peoples
lived side by side for many years in harmony, so too do Macaus
casino business and cultural heritage. With plans for an enormous
24-hour entertainment complex in the works and the Historic
Centre of Macaus recently awarded status as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, its a good bet that this coexistence
will continue for many years.